NATURE IN RETALIATION 



" Red in tooth and claw." 



Tennyson. 



In a mangrove creek a shoal of barramundi had been 



bombed with dynamite. Immediately after the explosion 



the white onlookers as well as the blacks dived off-hand 



into the stream to secure the helpless fish. One of the 



party seized a weighty and unconscious victim of the 



outrage, and to retain it thrust his fist through the gills 



and found himself unable to withdraw, and when the 



fish began to re\dve he realised that he was not master. 



With a supreme effort he did manage to get his head 



above water to gulp a mouthful of air, but the gallant 



fish promptly exerted itself, and a deadly struggle took 



place on the muddy bottom. Once more the fish was 



tugged to the surface, only to dive just as the man 



became conscious of the applause of the interested 



spectators. When they came to the surface again ill 



luck on the part of the fish had brought it into the 



shallows caused by a ridge of rocks, and the man hauled 



his prize ashore, frankly acknowledging that the happy 



chance of the rocks and not his own wits and strength 



had given the victory into his hands. 



On another occasion heartless dynamite was used in a 

 creek, where had assembled many blacks, who scrambled 

 riotously in the muddy water for the spoil, among 

 which were several huge crabs, some dismembered by 



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